MAYOR SIGNALS HIS DISPLEASURE; PANELIST TOLD TO QUIT TOUTING ACCESS.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. has asked Animal Regulation Commission President Steven Afriat to quit touting touting the making of personal representations by a veterinarian to persons who are not clients in an attempt to solicit their business. his city post and connection to political leaders while soliciting business for his lobbying firm. In addition, Riordan said through a spokeswoman Wednesday that he is prepared to support pending legislation that would ban lobbyists, including Afriat, from serving on city commissions. ``The mayor has signaled that he would not oppose the council's passage of that ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been ,'' said Stephanie Bradfield, a top aide to the mayor. The Daily News reported last month that Afriat's lobbyist firm had sent a letter to potential clients saying: ``The secret of Afriat's success is the political consulting Political consulting is the business which has grown up around advising and assisting political campaigns, primarily in the United States. As democracy has spread around the world, American political consultants have often developed an international base of clients. arm of our firm - We represent elected officials in fund-raising and campaign management. ``As a result, we provide the unique ability to make valuable contacts on behalf of our corporate clients, and get quick answers in a business where every minute counts,'' said the letter signed by Brian Chin, a company manager, who said letter was co-written by Afriat. The letter goes on to list clients who ``rely on our firm to achieve successful results for their projects. ``Steven Afriat, our president, is an appointee APPOINTEE. A person who is appointed or selected for a particular purpose; as the appointee under a power, is the person who is to receive the benefit of the trust or power. of Mayor Richard Riordan to the Board of Animal Regulation Commission and currently serves as the president of the board,'' the letter adds. The reference to Afriat's city commission post in a letter seeking lobbyist clients has disturbed some people in and around City Hall. Riordan has decided not to ask for Afriat's resignation after Ethics Commission In the United States, an Ethics Commission is a commission established by State law to discourage dishonest practices by their public employees and elected officials. Almost all American states have such a commission. officials told the mayor's staff that the Afriat letter did not violate city ethics laws, Bradfield said. ``I took the letter to the Ethics Commission and asked if there were any improprieties and they have said no,'' he said. Even so, Bradfield said the letter concerned the mayor. ``I've asked that the letter should not go out again,'' Bradfield said. ``My concern is about the way it was done in this letter.'' Afriat did not return calls for comment Wednesday but said last week that it was relevant to mention his city service in a letter seeking a job. Isaac Elnecave of California Common Cause said it is troubling that the letter appears to be an effort by Afriat to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. his commission appointment and indicate he has special access at City Hall. ``He's certainly not keeping things on a level playing field See net neutrality. . He's saying I have special access. We frown on Verb 1. frown on - look disapprovingly upon frown upon disapprove - consider bad or wrong that,'' Elnecave said. Councilman Mike Feuer also voiced concern about commissioners using their city posts to drum up lobbying business, so he supports the ordinance proposed more than a year ago to ban lobbyists from serving as commissioners. ``Being a commissioner contributes to the stature and influence of a lobbyist, so the potential exists for the perception that being a commissioner gives special influence to the lobbyists,'' Feuer said. |
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